We are pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Clarizia, an assistant professor at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, has won the Applied Sciences 2024 Travel Award. As the winner, she will receive an honorarium of CHF 600 and a certificate.

The following is an interview with Dr. Laura Clarizia:

1. Congratulations on your award! Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest?

I am an assistant professor at the University of Naples Federico II, Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering. I work in the field of industrial chemistry with specific applications in wastewater treatment and energy recovery, particularly hydrogen generation through photocatalytic processes. These processes are activated by sunlight and utilize specific catalysts. My research focuses on developing efficient catalysts to recover energy from sunlight using wastewater or other waste streams, including solid waste streams.

The main goal of my research is the decontamination of contaminated matrices, such as water and soil, while simultaneously achieving energy recovery in the form of hydrogen gas. This dual objective addresses both environmental and energy concerns.

The Travel Award will provide me with the opportunity to travel and connect with other researchers, enhancing collaboration and knowledge exchange.

2. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?

For young researchers, it is important to connect with other researchers and build both a local and international network. They should also seek grants specifically for young researchers.

In my professional opinion, there are two key aspects to be considered: building a network with other young researchers and consistently looking for grants and opportunities. Additionally, spending some time abroad in other countries is crucial. I spent part of my research activity in the US at the University of Cincinnati, and it was very important for my career.

3. How supportive might these kinds of awards be for researchers? Do you have any suggestions on how our journal could further support the academic community?

This is very important because we don't have a large amount of funding available for these kinds of events. While there is funding for some research projects, there is no specific funding for traveling. Therefore, this opportunity is crucial for me to connect with my network.

4. Do you have any suggestions for our journal regarding how we could further support young researchers and the academic community?

Yes, for example, you could promote a Special Issue led by young researchers with specific expertise in a particular field. Additionally, you could promote opportunities for young women to develop their careers. As you know, it can be more difficult, especially for those with families or children, so providing more opportunities for young women is important.

In Italy, if you look at the percentage of women and men in STEM research, there is gender equality at the Ph.D. level, with 50% women and 50% men. However, at the full professor level, it is about 90% men and 10% women, which is a significant problem.

5. What is your experience with our service from the point of view of an author and reviewer?

According to my experience with MDPI journals, their service is always very quick. When we submit papers, the assistance from the journals is always prompt and efficient. Overall, my experience with MDPI has been excellent, and their email communication is outstanding.

For more information about the journal awards, please click on the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/awards.